This week's Rare Bird Alert

This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, Feb. 6.

A great gray owl was seen and photographed in Hanover on Feb. 3 and 4. It was not seen on the fifth, or the sixth. The owl was initially seen along Trescott Road about halfway to Etna, near the Water Company land, and then later seen in a wetland area located about three-quarters of a mile from the Appalachian Trail parking lot. The owl ?could be anywhere nearby but has ?not been relocated.

A varied thrush was reported visiting a bird feeder at a private residence in Nashua on Feb. 6, and another one was reported from a private residence in Bartlett on Jan. 28 where it was seen again and photographed on Feb. 4.

A northern shrike was seen near Old Hancock Road in Hancock on Feb. 3, and one was seen along River Road in Stratham on Feb. 2.

A flock of more than 40 Bohemian waxwings was seen eating crabapples off of a tree at the School House Motel on Route 16 in North Conway on Feb. 6, about 30 were seen feeding in fruit trees along High Street in Plymouth on Feb. 2, and one was seen along Mountain Road in Concord on the third.

Pine grosbeak sightings during the past week included 30 in Manchester on Feb. 2, and three in Conway on Jan. 31.

A pair of peregrine falcons was seen in Manchester on Jan. 31, and one was seen in Concord on Feb. 3.

A northern goshawk was seen in Hancock on Feb. 3.

A turkey vulture was seen in Portsmouth on Feb. 4, and four were seen in Exeter on Jan. 31.

A northern pintail was seen in Ashland on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

A belted kingfisher was seen in Dublin on Feb. 2.

A hermit thrush was seen in Newmarket on Feb. 2.

A yellow-bellied sapsucker was seen along Commercial Street in Boscawen on Feb. 2.

This information is also available by phone recording: call 224-9909 and press 2 as directed or ask to be transferred. If you have seen any interesting birds recently, you can leave a message at the end of the recording or send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail at: birdsetc@nhaudubon.org. Please put either "bird sighting" or "Rare Bird Alert" in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and phone number. The RBA is also available on-line at the New Hampshire Audubon web site, www.nhaudubon.org.